CityLife is taking over the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Hub this Thursday (October 5) with some top bands and chat - including The Charlatans' Tim Burgess and Mark Collins.

Also on the bill are indie heroes Rain Band, The Travelling Band's Steve Ballinger and emerging Manc talent Josh Goddard.

And the best bit? It's all FREE.

Tim Burgess and Mark Collins will be in conversation with CityLife editor Simon Binns, talking about most recent album Different Days, as well as playing some tracks from the new record - and maybe some new versions of old classics.

During the day, Simon will also be hosting a discussion panel - so whether it's your lunch hour or after work, head down to the CityLife Stage to catch some top notch entertainment.

Is the city heading in the right direction? Are Michelin stars important? What are the new trends to emerge and where is the next great wave of local restaurant talent coming from?

2-2.45pm - Steve Ballinger

Founding member of the Travelling Band, Steve Ballinger has recently completed his first solo album - with a working title of Joy, the record has an American sound with some familiar Manc influences.

Produced by Durutti Column multi-instrumentalist and Ex-Fall member Kier Stuart, the album features fellow Duruttis, drummer Bruce Mitchell and guitar maestro Vinni Reilly.

I am Kloot drummer Andy Hargreaves also features on the album.

Steve will be appearing as an acoustic trio with both Kier Stuart and Andy Hargreaves.

6-6.45pm - The Rainband (acoustic slot) The Rainband are no strangers to the music industry with high praise and plaudits from Paolo Nutini and both Liam and Noel Gallagher. In recent years the band have had critical and commercial success with their tracks ‘Rise Again’ and ‘Sirens’ both achieving top 10 positions in the UK Indie singles chart. 2015 saw them taking to the main stage at the world famous Isle of Wight Festival in support of the legendary Fleetwood Mac, before touring Europe with Paolo Nutini. Debut album Satellite Sunrise was released in 2016 and will be followed by the band’s second album ‘The Shape Of Things To Come’, released in February 2017 along with a UK and European Tour.

7-8pm - Tim Burgess and Mark Collins from The Charlatans - in conversation with Simon Binns, plus live acoustic set

Tim Burgess of The Charlatans launches Different Days in the Northern Quarter

Tim Burgess and Mark Collins talk about the making of new record Different Days - which featured guest collaborators such as Johnny Marr and Sharon Horgan - as they embark on a new UK tour this winter.

The Charlatans have released 13 studio albums and Tim Burgess has also released two solo records and written two books.

8.15-9pm - Josh Goddard "Coming straight off the back of a recent support slot with soul legend Martha Reeves, Manchester-based singer-songwriter Joshua Goddard is no stranger to the stage. Having cut his teeth across the various venues of his home-town as part of The Quangos or Lucky T. Jackson, turning heads and impressing critics in the process, the Mancunian troubadour has developed a rich musicality that stems from the bands from which he takes his cues.

His latest track, and first under his own name, sees Goddard drawing from a wealth of decade-spanning influences, tying them off neatly with more than a flourish of modernity.